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How to Use Coconut Oil: 28 Ways to Incorporate It into Your Beauty Routine

It seems everywhere you turn someone is talking about how awesome coconut oil is for absolutely every beauty dilemma. Frizzy hair? Coconut oil. Makeup remover? Coconut oil. Mosquito bites? I think you're beginning to pick up on the coconut-infused picture I'm throwing down. In order to truly experience how to use coconut oil, I gave up my favorite products and walked around smelling like a coconut cloud for a weekend. These are my 28 ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routine.

What to Look For

When buying coconut oil, be sure to look for unrefined organic coconut oil as it is the most natural and healthiest option available. It can be bought in large quantities at grocery stores and online. Since there are so many ways to use coconut oil, I got the mega 54-ounce jar from Carrington Farms. Replacing many products with coconut oil can save you a ton of money while still reaping the benefits. Deborah Levy, registered dietitian and health and nutrition consultant for Carrington Farms, loves coconut oil because there is science behind it—it's not just the latest beauty craze.

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Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient dental technique originating in India that involves swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. You spit the oil out (into the trash, not the sink as it could clog), and it is supposed to draw the toxins and bacteria from your mouth and body. Do this every single day to reap the most benefits.

Eye Cream and Nighttime Moisturizer

After removing my makeup, I gently rubbed coconut oil underneath my eye area and across my entire face as a nighttime moisturizer. Visions of Mounds bars danced in my head, and in the morning I woke up with soft skin and surprisingly no oily feeling. Using coconut oil around your eye area can prevent wrinkles and reduce puffiness and under-eye bags.

Shaving Cream

Instead of a drugstore shaving cream, try a more natural approach with coconut oil. Wet the area, apply coconut oil, and shave as usual. Coconut oil helps the razor glide across your legs and hydrates skin in the process.

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Massage Oil

It's hard to not feel relaxed when you catch a whiff of coconut. You envision a sunny day on a tropical beach with a piña colada in hand. With that in mind, use coconut oil as massage oil, and let the relaxing scents carry you away.

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Heal Dry Skin

Whether it's your elbows, feet, or anywhere in between, call in the big guns to help heal the scaly patches. To prevent nosebleeds and provide relief from a cold, rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose.

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Face Mask

Honey contains antimicrobial properties. Combine it with equal parts coconut oil for a great face mask. The mask can help to clear acne and keep skin soft and glowing. Here are three coconut-oil face masks!

Hair Mask

Apply coconut oil to wet or dry hair from roots to ends and let sit. Rinse the oil off in the shower and moisture will be restored to your hair. This is one of the best ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routine, says Levy.

Leave-In Conditioner

I applied the coconut oil to wet hair and then went to bed. While I took a little tiger snooze, the fatty acids in coconut oil softened my hair. The coconut oil does make hair look a bit greasy, but it smells great and your hair will thank you.

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Lice Treatment

Rinse hair with apple cider vinegar; then apply coconut oil to the scalp. Wrap in a shower cap, and leave overnight or for several hours. Remove cap, and easily comb out the lice eggs without damaging the hair.

Cheekbone Highlighter

Makeup Remover

Swap your makeup remover wipes for coconut oil to get rid of the pounds of mascara stuck to your lashes. The oil easily removes all traces of makeup. Just be sure to also wipe away the excess oil so it doesn't irritate your eyes.

Athlete's Foot or Fungus

The next time you get athlete's foot or a fungus, treat it with coconut oil. Levy says, "Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are naturally occurring antifungal agents. They work to disrupt the lipid membrane in fungus."

Flavoring in Coffee or Tea

Levy swears by her coffee recipe, which contains a half tablespoon of coconut oil, a dash of cinnamon, and milk to taste. The oil will emulsify into your hot drink and add a light coconut flavor sure to perk up your morning commute!

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Cooking

Coconut oil is a healthy alternative to other oils. Levy raves of its benefits, including that coconut oil is easy to digest, quickly absorbed by the liver, burned for fuel, and possibly increases metabolism. Be careful to not overdo it, she cautions. The oil has tremendous benefits but also has 130 calories per tablespoon. For a flavor boost, Carrington Farms makes garlic- or rosemary-infused coconut oil.

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Smoothies

Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your favorite smoothie recipe. The body doesn't recognize coconut oil as fat but rather as a fuel source, Levy explains. The oil's medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a great source of energy.

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